Talking-machine.



E. R. JOHNSON L IrC. ENGLISH.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, 1915. I v 1,217.,869 Patented Feb. 27, m17.

I L93 y JJ@ I' f5 Jaa L Il@ III/VE E. Ru )OHNSON &1. C. ENGLISH.

TALKING MACHINE.

' kAPPLIwxTloN HLED APR.23,1915.

1,217,869. Patented Feb. 27,1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A TTORNEYS lE. R. IOHNSON & J, CIENG'LISH.

TALKING MACHINE; APPLICATION FILED APR. Z3. IsIs.

ateted Feb. 27, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

1,217,869. Eggs.

II "fk l preferably tapering,

large,

fleeting means,

l ELDRIDGE B.. OHNSON, 0F IMMIGR, y'AND 4JOHN C. ENGLSHQQL PHILALDELFHZIIA,I PENN'- SYLVANA, LASSIGNORS T0 VCTQB TALKING- MACHNE CGMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

,. TALKING-Macerata.

Patente-a niet.. er, ieri.

application ma aprn 23,1915. serial no. asses.

' specification, reference being had to t e accompanyingl drawings.

Among the principal yobjects of our invention are to provide a talking machine having amplifying means of relatively great size, and along, preferably'tapering, sound-conveyor.V interposed between the .am-

producing,riiesiiisito provide a talking ma'- chine of this character comprising a hollow,

lseparable sound-conveyer having a minimum number of joints; to provide a talking machine comprising a plurality of separate chambers, respectivelyl housing the actuating mechanism, the ma] or -portionl of the sound-conveying means, and

the amplifying means; to provide a talking machine having sound wave deflectingmeans whereby the sound waves will be amplified and their tonal qual-ities improved as they" issue from the talking machine; and to provide a talking machine having `relatively vertically opening amplify. lng mean-sA and a sounding-board, or sound wave dethe mouth of said amplifying means as to deflect the sound waves issuingntherefrom j the machine tobe readily passed` through a door of ordinary width; and to provide al talking machine having a cabinetso con-" structed as -to afford a maximum storage space for records and' other accessories, and which shall be of a pleasing and attractive appearance.

' tain portions being fording space for other supplies; and that portionof the cabif ofV the partitions servingto so disposed with relation to fying means,

person unfamiliar for the purpose of more Our invention further includes all of the other various novel featuresy of construction and arrangement `hereinafter more definitely specilied.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a central, longitudinal, vertical section of a talking machine, constructed.inaccordance `with one form of our invention; Fig. Q is a top plan view thereof, certain portions being broken away for the sake of clearness; Fig. 3 isa transverse,l vertical, y

section thereof, taken on line 3-3 Iin Fig. 2, looking inthedirection of the arrows, cer- Vshown in elevation for the Vsake of clearness; 'and Fig. l is a fragmentary, transverse, horizontal section takenon line 4 4 inv Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Generally speaking our. invention'may be saidto comprise a cabinet having its side walls so arranged thattliefront portion of the cabinet is of materially less width than the rear portion, the cabinet being transversely separable and provided adjacent the line of separation with a pair of vertically extending partitions arranged one on each side of said line, that portion of the cabinet infront of the partitions serving ,to house the actuating mechanism of the talking machine and a considerable portion of the sound-conveying means, as well as afthe storage of records and net in the rear form a compartment for the reception of another portion of the sound-conveying means, as well as the relatively large ampliand to support thesound-defleeting means, the cabinet as well as the V sound-conveying means being so constructed as to be ireadily separable adjacent the par-f titions. i

llteferring'now to. the drawings, inA which is illustrated one embodiment vof our invention, and for, Aconveniencejof description. considering momentarily only that portion thereof in front of the'transverse dividing partitionsfhithert'o referred to, the same comprises a cabinet having a suitable frame 1, 'side walls" 2' and 3, bottom 5, top 6, front 7, and rear wall or partition 8, the latter .forming .onejofthev said dividing partitions )when the whole cabinet is assembled. The

' front of the cabinet is Vprovided with doors 9 and 10, so arranged as to readily give access to the interior thereof, and the side walls of the cabinet may preferably be formed in curvilinear contour, as best shown in Fig. 2, the major portion of the side walls extendi'ngfo'rward from the rear wall 8, of the cabinet for a. considerable distance substantially normal thereto, and thereafter being constricted inwardly in a suitable curve or other pleasing configuration as at 2 and 3", in such manner that the eXtreme 4forward portion of the cabinet will be of -considerably less width than the major porxinclosed on three sides byr suitable vertical partitions 17 and 18, the sides of the shelves being substantially normal to the general direction to that portion of the side Walls in the rear of which the shelves are located. A lplurality of other suitable horizontal shelves 20, may also be provided in the rear of the aperture closed by the doors 9 and l0, l access to the said shelves being readily obtained by opening tue doors, the shelves being also preferably inclosed by `suitablevertical partitions Z2'. For convenience in manufacture `the various sets of shelves with their adjacent partitions may be constructed as integral' units se arate from the cabinet proper, and therea ter'secu'red in position therein by means of suitable fastenings so as to be maintained in permanentfixedV relationzrelatively thereto, and by arranging they various shelves substantially in the* manner hereinbefore described, amaximum aroo'unt of readilyacoessible storage'space vsuitable for holding sound records andthe.

like, is obtained without in any manner deltracting from the appearance,v or tonal qual-v ities of the talking machine;

A suitable aperture25, in the top 46,- of the cabinet affords space for the reception of theinotor board 26, suitably supported.

therein as by' the cleats 28', andv from which is suspended a suitable motor or other actuating means-O, which may bc of `any desired or preferred construction, and which may be preferably inclosed ina conipa'it4 -ment 32, suitably formedy within the cabinet by the partitions 34 and 35, and bottom 'board 37. Themotor may be provided with an upwardly extending shaft 40, passing through a suitable apertureI in theA motor board, and carrying the rotatable turntable All, which serves as a support for the sound record 42, in the usual manner. A sound reproducer 45, of any desired or preferred nen/asco construction is provided and preferably at tached to a U-shaped tube orgooseneclr 46, in turn connected with the preferably tapering tone arm 4:8, extending toward the rear of the cabinet, and supported in such nianner as to permit its free l'horizontal movement, as, forinstance, by a suitable bracket 49, and pivot 50, in the well-known erably internally threaded apertures in a flange 60, formed upon the upper end of the downwardly extending sound-conveyor 65, consisting preferably of a single casting providing a suitable slightly tapering internal passage-way 66. While this portion of the sound-conveyer may be of any desired shape, itis preferably formed so that the upper end thereof will be somewhat for- "wardly olf-set from the lower portion which, adjacent its lowermost extremity, is turned rearwardly through an angle of substantially degrees, and provided with a suitable transversely extending flange 70, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

lt will be evident that when the screws 58,

are positioned in the lianges 57 and 60, that the upper end of the sound-conveyer will be maintained in rigid relation with the bracket 49, and communication a'ordcd between the interior of the sound-conveyer and the interior of thc'tone arm 48, whereby the sound waves traveling from the latter willreadlly pass into the former.

The rear wall or partition 8, of this por- 'tion of the cabinet extends between the side walls thereof and from the top of. the cabi net to ,thebottoun and is provided with a suitable aperture 77,for the passage of the solmd-conveyer 65.` This partition, as well asrother of the partitions and walls of the cabinet, may comprise a plurality of suitable relativelyl thin panels as indicated in .the drawings, set in a more rigid surrounding frame work in order to lighten the construction of the cabinet, and in certain instances to produce a more resonant structure;'and it will be understood that in the construction of the cabinet generally, the use of such panels and of suitable strengthening braces and cleats in the manner well .understood by persons familiar with the art may be resorted to when considered necessary-or desirable. i

The flange 70,`upon thelower end of the sound-conveyer 65', is provided with a plurality` of suitable apertures for the recepliotion of the bolts 80, providedv with nuts 81, whereby 'the flange may be secured inixed relation to the partition 8, and lupon the rear side thereof, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 4, thus maintaining this portion of the soundoo'nveyer in rigid operative relation to the front portion of thecabinet, and in a chamber therein separate from the actuating mechanism. A

Referring now to that portion of the cabi net in the rear of the dividing partitions the same may comprise side walls85 and 86, rear wall 87, bottom 88, and front wall 89, the side and rear walls being the full height of thisportion of the cabinet, which preferably extends somewhat alcove the top 6, of

the front portion. The front wall 89, how-- ever, merely extends from above the top 6, sulliciently far to bring its upper extremity into the same horizontal plane as the extremities of the side and rear walls, and is preferably so, arranged, by means of a suitable forwardly extending off-set in the side walls, that it will slightly overhang the rear edge of top 6,as clearly shown in Fig.

. 1. Extending across the front of this portion ofthe cabinet is the vertical partition 90, corresponding to the partition 8, previously described, the lower portion 92 thereof being preferably formed of relatively thick material, as best shown in Fig. 1, for

the purpose of securely supporting another lportion of the sound-conveyer, as `well as the amplifying means proper. ,The extreme rear wall 87 may be provided with a'suitable opening'closed by suitable outwardly opening doors 95 and 96, to a'ord access to the interior of this portion of the' cabinet.

`llithin the chamber formed in the rear portion of the cabinet is located an upy wardly extending portion of the sound-con- Veyer, together with the amplifying means proper, the former being preferably formed 'of a single casting 100, and providing front and rear walls 101 and 102, slightly diverging in an upward direction, and side walls 103, also upwardly diverging, but at a considerably greater angle, whereby a soundconducting passage 105, is formed therein, Substantially rectangular in horizontal secy tion and of increasing larea toward the up wardly projecting mouth. The lower end of lthis portion 100, of the "sound-conveyor, may, as best shown in Fig. 1, be turned substantiallyv at right angles to the main portion thereof, and provided with a transm versely extending flange 110. A suitable aperture 112, is provided in the thickened portion 92 of the partition 90, and throughI this aperture the sound-conveyor extends and is secured. in fixed relation with the partition by means of bolts 114, and nuts 115, which pass through suitable holes in the partition and in the flange 110, in such manner that the flange will abut against the front side yof the partition 1n opposition to the flange 70, previously described. The flange 110l is also provided with other suitable apertures for the passage of a plurality of screws 120, which engage in other threaded apertures in the flange 70, and

serve to maintain the'two flanges face 'to face when in` assembled position, so .that the two portions of the sound-conveyerfmay be rigidly maintained in fixed relation and a continuous passage for thesound waves provided therethrough. The screws 120 may be of suliicient length to pass directly suitable flanges 130, to which the' side walls 131, and end walls 132, of the upwardly'ex-:

tending amplifier 135, are secured, as by the screws or rivets 136, the walls terminating preferably adjacent the top of, but out of contact with, the cabinet.

The amplifier may also referablybe provided with a plurality ofptrausversepartitions 138, either extending vertically up# ward therein or diverging, more or less depending upon the number and styleofpartitions used, and these partitions as well as the side and end walls of the amplifier may preferably be formed of wood or other -resonant material, either of constantl thickness,

or tapered upwardly, as shown in connection with the side walls 131., in Fig.'3. lf desired, however, any other form ortype of amplifier may be employed, the same being preferably supported solely by the upwardly turned sound-conveyer,` and having no connection whatsoever to any portion of the cabinet. A

For the purpose of closing the open upper end of fthe rear portion of the cabinet, a lid 150, pntferably having a depression or hollow 151, in its under side, may lbe provided and hinged, as by hinge 152, to the cabinet adjacent its rear edge, and asounding-board or sound-deliector 153, consisting vprefer-- ably of a thin sheet of wood or other resonant material may extend across the de pression in the lid in such manner as to cover the entire under side of the latten 'lhis sound-dcllector or sounding-board may be of either constant thickness or else` may be tapered from back to front or vice versa, :1s maydie desired, and may preferably be secured in vfixed relation' with the lid. A suitable link 155, or other preferred means 'serves to hold the lid in raised position while i and so arranged thatl their forward ends the machineiis in operation in such manner that the sounding-board 153, is maintained 1n angular relatlon with the open ymouth of the amplifier, whereby thersound waves issuf ing therefrom and impiuging against the sounding-board,'are thereby defiected from their initial upward direction forwardly' t0- ward the front part of the machine and simultaneouslyr improved in'lonal quality. When the mar hine is not in operation, or it is desired to greatly mutlle the reproduction, the lid may be lowered by suitable manipulation of the link and of a. catch 156, by which the position of the lid may be controlled. i

F or the purpose of covering the turntable and sou11d-reproducingmechanism, as well as of affording a more artistic finish to the cabinet, another lid 160, hinged at 161, is provided and designed to close against a suitable frame 165, secured to the top 6, of the forward portion of the cabinet, and surrounding those portions of the mechanism which project above the top. This lid may be maintained in raised position when desired by means of a suitable link 168, in the well-known manner.

A plurality of fector legs i200, for the purpose of supporting the cabinet are provided and arranged at suitable` points, and

in practice it is desirable top'bvide one or more legs201 and 202, located substantially along the median line of the cabinet and respectively beneath the front and rear portions thereof, for the purpose of affording a support to thel sections of the cabinet when the 'latter is dis-assembled,` as hereinafter described. r

For thepurpose of securing the front and rear portions of the cabinet in assembled relation, a plurality of rearwardly extending and suitably spaced bolts 170, are provided are fixedly secured within the'partiition 8, from which point the bolts extend rearwardly for a suiiicient distance to pass com-I pletely through the partition 90, or itsthickened portion 92, as the case may be, when the cabinet is assembled, and ailord space for the reception of the washers 171, and thumb nuts 172, upon their ends, which are suitably threaded for the reception of the latter, and for the purpose of maintaining the two partitions `8 and 90, in correctly spaced relation, vertically extendingstrips 176, secured to the partition 8 may be provided adjacent the bolts 170, and through y which uw, meer preferably extend; if desired, a Washer 180, of felt or ,other resilient material, may -surround each bolt between the rear faces of the strips and the adjacent faceof the partition 90.

It will thus be evident that,`w en the-,two portions of the cabinet are move'd into operative relation, as shown in the` drawings,

the bolts 0 will extend through thepartition 90, or its thickened portion 92, as the case may be, and that by placing the thumb nuts 172 upon the ends of the bolts and tightening rthem down against the washers 171, the two portions of the cabinet may be rigidly secured together to form a unitary operative structure, the two portions of the sound-conveyor being similarly maintained in fixed relation by means of the screws 120 7,' passed through the abutting flanges and 110.

lt will furthermore be evident that the front and rear portions of the cabinet may be readily separated when desired merely by removing the thumb nuts 172,` washers 171,' and screws 120, which operation may be y readily accomplished when the doors 95 and 96, at the rear of the cabinet are opened, thus permitting the rear portion of the eabinet to be movedaway from the front portion, to,` separate the machine into two self contained and independent units, which may be easily transported and readily passed through a door of ordinary width, an opera tion which, owin to the relatively large size of the machine, would be impossible when the same is assembled for use. Furthermore, such separation of the two porn tions of the machine may be readily edected 95 by a person entirely unfamiliar with talking machines, as it is accomplished without any interference whatsoever with the delicate operative parts of the device, and withdimensions of the amplifier and the isolation 11o 'of certain parts of the device in separate chambers, it has been found in practice that the reproduction of sound by a machine embodying the characteristics of our invention is extremely life-like and without disa- 1'15 greeable features, while being of great volg ume, so that a machine constructed in accordance with ourr invention isespecially suitable, among other purposes, for reproducing sound in :'uditoriums and similar 12o rooms of large size, and yet capable of ready transportation from place to place as may be required. l

While we have described with considerable .detail one embodiment of our invention, s

i e' do not desire to limit ourselves to the ,act details of construction and arrange- 'ment thereof as herein set forth, as it will be evident thatv various changes may be made n the form and location of the various parts of the device, and in numerous other details relative to the construction and arrangement thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the app vided claims. f

Having thus described our invention what We claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a talking machine, the combination of a cabinet having front compartments and a rear compartment, a top, a partition separating said front and rear compartments, of actuating means in one of said front compartments belon7 said top, sound-reproducing means abovesaid top, sound-conveying meansextending through said top and through the other of said front. compartments and through said partition, an

upwardly projecting' sound-amplifier in saidrear compartment, in operative communica- Ation with said sound vconveying means and having its mouth adjacent the top ot' said rear compartment, a movable lid above sald rear compartment, a movable cover `inclos- 'ing said sound-reproducing means, and.

means operative to permit the separation vadjacent said partition of that portion of net having a plurality of vertically extending transverse partitions and having a plurality of separate compartments on one Side of said partitions and a single compartment on the other side of-said partitions, actuating mechanism in one of said first-mentioned compartments, scundconveying means in another of said first-mentioned compartments and extending into said single compartment through said partitions,

sound-ampiifying means in said single compartment supported by said soundconviy ing means, and means whereby that portion oi said'ealinet 'containing said actuatingr mechanism may he separated from that portion ot said cabinet containing said soundanu'ili'iying means on a plane extending between said partitions, and means Wlulrehy said solnul-conveying means may be similarly separated.

i. In a talhing'lnachinc. the combination of a cabinet sub-divided by a partition, sound reproducing means and sound amplitying means carried hy said cabinet on 0pposite sides of' said partition. and sound conveying means extending on both sides of said partition and connecting said reprodmzing means and said amplifying means, said cabinet and said conveying means being each formed of separable sections united adjacent said partition.

4. In a talking machine, the combination of twoseparahle units, means to rigidly secure said units together, a sound repro` ducing mechanism and a motor mechanism within one oi said units, a lid on the top of said unit to inclose and give access to said `sound reproducing mechanism, an amplifier in the other of said units arranged to discharge sound upwardly, a lid on the top of said 1nist mentioned unit arranged when raised to form a defiector to direct the sound from said amplifier over said first mentioned unit, and a sound conveyer extending Wfliln said. units and connecting said sound reproducing means with said amplifier.

In Witness whereof, We have hereunto set our hands these 13th and 21st days of April,

ELDRIDGE R. JOHNSON. JOHN O.' ENGLISH. 

